Carton erecting apparatus



P. .L LAcK wELL CARTON EREQT ING APPARATUS Filed March. 24, 1945 5Sheets-Sheet l May 4, 1948. P. J. BLACKWELL T 2,440,840

' CARTON ERECTING APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented May 4, 1948 UNITED STATES ATEN T FF CARTON ERECTING Animus iPreston]. Blackwell, Emerson, N. 3., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Robert-GrailCompany,

N. Y., a corporation v of New Y Application March 24, 1945,SerialNo.]584,' 71 2 (ores- 53) l l a This invention relates particularly totheerection from a vflat knock-downcondition of a cellular carton of thetype having cross partitions mounted in slots of the carton body 'walls,to an extended position in" which notches at the ends of the partitionsare interenga'ged'withthe ends of the body slots,therebyholdingthe sidewalls angularly open and the cellular compartments free for thereception of eggs or other articles.

Heretoforecartons of this nature have been erected by hand or bysomewhat complicated machines for effecting thenece'ssary operation.,This

fore to provide an apparatus utilizing a double belt feed which engagesthe blanks at places which become opposite walls and eventually coversof the carton, and for advancing the blank continuously tofspread thewalls, to set and interlock the cross partitions with the body walls,and to 13 Claims.

deliver the erected cartons from the opposite ends of the belts.

I A'iurther object of the invention is toprovide 'fixed guides andsupports in association with the belts so thatthe carton blanks-withassociated partitions are moved-continuously through the variousstagesand operations without requiring other timing and operational partswhich ,.are complicated and likely to get out of order.

Qther objects of the invention will appear in the specification and willbe apparent from theaccompanying drawings, in which; n

Fig." l is a top plan view of a carton erecting apparatus'in accordancewith this invention; n

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of theapparatus shown in Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is asectional viewtaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; showingthe condition. of thecarton blank and partitions at this location; 1

Fig. '4 is a perspective view of a carton blank triple-foldedtoprovidefour plies between the inner two of which'the partitions aredisposed inflatwise relation, the center fold being uppermost as in theposition when the blankis to be erected by the apparatus of thisinvention;

discharged from the apparatus. in V Cellular cartons ofth'etype to whichthis invention relates comprise a slotted blank having three Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the carton erected from the blank of Fig. 4, thecarton wallsbeing extended upwardly as when ready for reception orremoval of contents;

Fig. dis a sectional view taken on line 6-5 of Fig. 2, showing thecondition of a carton blank and partitions at this location;

Figfv'lwhich a sectional, view takenon line 1-1 of Fig. 2, shows thecondition of the carton b l'ankvand partitions at this location; and

Fig; j8 is anend view of the apparatus showing t e erectedcarton jininverted position; ready to be parallel folds, one in the center whichis opposite the 'otheratogether with a plurality of partitions, oneentered through registering slots in the two "inner plies 'of theblankso folded. In this condition, with the'partitions lying flatwisebetween the outer plies of the blank, the blanks occupy the minimumspace forshipmen't and storing. To use the cartons,they must first beset up or erected by opening theouter and inner plies of the blank. Inthis operation a condition of distension I is reached whereupon thepartitionsjswing to transversepositions where they may be engaged andlocked at theirends within registering slots provided forthis purpose...This erection is al laborious task if done by hand aseach partition mustbe engaged withits particular, slot. Q .1 The present invention isconcerned with a'simplef typeo'f carton erector in which fiat, foldedcartons may be fed into one end of the apparatus where they are engagedand moved along by belts Which aclvance thecartons processionally toperform in succession the operations of opening out orfspreading theseveral plies of the blank, rotating the cross partitions to transverseengaging positions, v successively interengaging w each crosspartitionwith'the corresponding slots in the sides f the g k advancingthe carton blank along until all of the cross partitions are engaged,and then .discharging the carton in a completely erected condition. H 1

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, thecinvention maybemore easily understood from a considerationof the flat and erectedcartons asshown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each carton blank is center. folded at20 and then folded twice again at I2 to provide two inner plies llbetween outer plies l3, the latter being formed with fold lines '23which, in the. erected carton, define cover sections l i lla A blank soformed and folded is adapted to be opened out and distended but, withthe inner plies ll partly restrained from separawhich are bowed 'endwisein general conformity tion by means hereinafter noted, spreadingmovewith the curvature of the guides 21. Each bar ment therebetween willbe confined to those poris supported from the adjacent edge of the toptions M which are furthest removed from the cenplate by a number ofbrackets 39 adapted to holdter fold (see Fig. 5). The inner and outerplies 5 the deflecting bars 38 in a slightly inclined posiof the ,blanlg are formed with registe in slots ticn at the starting end, t ebarslying nearly 15 so thattransireijsepartitions relievin stepshorizontally toward th tartin enga e the ap- I! may initially be mountedin the slots I5 of the p ratus (see F and then twi ng ra l inner pliesfor hinging movement so as to be fold Until ey pp a h a al DOSition (Seeable flatly on opposite sides thereof when the car'- '10 7). The upp rdge of each bar is disposed subton blank is triple-folded or collapsedas siitvii iii t y fie zl e to the re w d d y Fig. 4. L

The slot l1 formed in the up partition adapts it for seating wit gfif tof the deflecting bars 38 are m g;- ow commencing at a point spaced"from clined portion of the top rail 35 (see Fig, 2).

plies of the blank, and at the top edge of each 15 the Starting lqi theapparatus and at Point partition is a locking projection It adflptgd $9yvhere theguides 21 are nearly but not quite at; be seated in one of aplura ty of hot'cff's 19 their maximum separation. The reason for: thisformed along the center fold 2o, thereby holding .isthe t deflecting s38 o not come o each partition in place with respect to the carton-5I515i7i'0h until after th Outer P s f a ca n blanlg initially nd tothe erected carton struc- 20 blank h l been" .912 1 y t t re at be Inmen 'Ab j spending slot, l 5 .of I becomes ,one of the si ton, theresiliency t 9 ll ttb en es; e t the outer. end. of th 'tliieiri,theczlft H tained in its exte rded 1 e1 'efi l in. g- '5 Ilbri'itl'idinalsore the 611 r 1 5? at r ie'eher 'e Mounted 'aloii' Opemtion t a H fi ef idceft e the outer plies straddling Th the tilde blocs 3j3fait t e rear 'Eirtending overthle guideis thereof is a ton guidj pcross pieces 36 sfijpo'itedfit 1315 31 'er'ected upon the "siibiierf'ttheofitr sides of the be1ts'28.

blank until the partition edges which then are uppermost become engagedby the under surface of the top guide 35, as shown more clearly in Fig.6.

At a point between the position shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6, thedeflecting bars 38 engage the outer plies l3 of the carton blank todepress them to a partially flattened position -(see Fig. 6). Here thelowermost edges of the cross partitions are supported by the bottomsupport 40 which is inclined upwardly from the starting end.

a As the partially erected carton is advanced further between the lowersupport 40 and the upper guide 35, the central part of the structure isgradually raised, but the deflecting bars 38, whose elevation above theguides 21 remain substantiallyunchanged, continue to engage the outerplies l3 and maintain the inner faces of their folds 23 in engagementwith the tops of the guides 21, there'- by forcing these plies inwardlyto the point that the proximate ends of the slots l5 are positionedbelow the pointed extremities 22 of the notches 2|. At this point, thespacing of the guides 21 and the positioning of the deflecting bars 38is such that the partition and notches 2! may interengage and lock withthe slotted outer plies 13 of the blank which now become the outer wallsof the carton with the result that a self-sustaining structure isproduced as shown in cross section in Fig. 8.

This setting-up operationcauses all of the partitions to become engagedwith the outer walls of the carton which, as thus erected, is then discharged from the exit end of the apparatus by the continued movement ofthe belts. The cartons which are made of a suitable fiber or paper boardhave sufficient resilience and flexibility to be moved continuously bythe belts without breaking, and the blank plies are maintainedyieldingly at all times againstthe guides 21. An apparatus of this kindis preferably three or four times the length of the cartons. Noparticular means is shown for feeding the'folded blanks or for removingthe erected cartons, these operations being optionally done by hand ormechanical means.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it isnot the intention to limit the invention to the mechanism shown, sincevariations therefrom are permissible without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An erecting apparatus for a flat folded carton having side walls withfree edges extending substantially together and folded medially inwardwith transverse slots in the inner side walls extending into themedially folded portion and having cross partitions hingedly seated inthe slots of the medially folded portion and lying flatwise between theside walls, guide means insertable the partitions as the cartons aremoved atone other at the discharge end, a pair of belts each between thefree edges of a carton at one end rounded outwardly intermediate theirends and approaching each other at the other end, a belt extending alongthe outer face of each of the guide means, means to rotate the belts,spring pressed means along the inner run of each belt to press itagainst its guide means, the partitions being swung transversely of acarton when the side walls of the carton are moved outwardly by theguide means, means for supporting the upper and lower edges of thepartitions when swung to transverse positions, and outer deflecting barsfor engaging the outer face of the side walls of a carton to depressthesidewalls and engage the ends of the slots therein with the ends ofengaging and extending along the outer face of one of the guides, meansto yieldingly press the inner run of each belt against the outer face ofits guide, upper and lower guide means for engaging the upper and loweredges of cross partitions as they are moved endwise of the side guides,and a pair of inclinedouter deflecting bars extending from asubstantially horizontal position near the starting end parallel withand within the side guides and turned into substantially verticalposition at the discharge end.

3. In an apparatus for erectingflatly folded cartons composed ofintegral inner and outer plies and provided with hinged crosspartitions, a pair of side guides arranged close together at the frontend and rounded outwardly intermediate of their ends and spaced apart attheir rear ends a distance less than the space between the outwardlyrounded intermediate portions, a pair of pulleys adjacent each end ofthe side guides, a air of belts extended between one pulley of each pairand engaging the outer faces of the guides and running lengthwise of thesame and contact ting with the guides throughout substantially theentire length of said guides to receive the freeedges of outer plies ofa flatly folded carton blank: between the belts and the guides andthereby engage and move the carton blank lengthwise upon the guides tospread the outer plies and. separate the inner plies and permit thecross par-- titions to swing transversely opposite registeringslots inthe plies, the rear portions of the guides: causing the outer plies ofthe carton to move inwardly as the cross partitions are advanced. intothe slots, and driving means interconnect ing one pulley of each pairfor causing the two belts to move in unison.

4. In an apparatus for erecting flatly folded. cartons composed ofintegral inner and outer plies and provided with hinged crosspartitions; a. pair of side guides having vertical faces-- arrangedclose together at their front ends and rounded outwardly intermediatetheir ends: and. spaced apart at their rear ends a distance less: thanthe distance between the outwardly rounded intermediate portions, a pairof pulleys adjacent:

each end of the side guides, a pair of belts ex tended between onepulley ofeach pair and engaging the vertical faces of the guides andrun-- ning lengthwise thereof to receive the free edges; of the outerplies of a flatly foldedcarton blank: between the belts and the guides,thereby to engage and move the carton blanklengthwise upon the guides tospread the outer plies and separate the inner plies and permit the crosspartitions to be arranged transversely of the carton oppositeregistering slots in the plies, the rear ends of the side guides causingthe outer plies of the carton to move together as the cross partitionsadvance in said slots and drivin means interconnecting one pulley ofeach pair for causing the two belts to move in unison.

5. A carton erecting machin for flatly folded cartons composed ofintegral inner and outer plies and provided with hinged crosspartitions, comprising a pair of side guides arranged to spread theouter plies of the carton and cause separation of the inner plies andpermit the cross partitions to be arranged transversely of meter e eee@eo eee fie eei terinee ots;. et eeyes.eei tzenexegs I r of pulleys jcent each end :9: $1.19 ee iegithe 1.15.101? .edyen inethe cmse 11. Pain01? ndless 'belte; xtended.h t Mqnemw r, istering sl t tneteer nds oD1}! o f eqch pair and ex eegin .the ,ute geees the guides permittingthe side walls to moye toe th side eu clqs. 9. rece ve, d: when 9. e d 5ethen he ettitiqns. are admncea into: the thegelgy to enge, ge en m w thcegtqg 1 1; 1; 7 e vle thwiee: u m hew v e .e d 193? A:h-Aeeenetflusfxar erect n fle y folded cer- 2% QH ecute ie d .e et ee;025: 2 19 t oz peeed .ofgjintq rel. inner apdouter plies end. oy dwithinge ss. Pa t t s, Qmf siqeieul es i l ren ed q ese to; Q13...emiz.and., ounded ioutwardly ntqm te hei; ..e .d.s,.e d...ppnoeehing e .r er en a pee-n. of .pe lexsadiacen 'i :u. i .1 @ltS xtendd e: .eee air nd en agi g-the u des pd extend n alon he..side.tle1ls..and means engage inne -e e fb he elrte ho mde eee e Q. l

plies and v hieeed; c a e pazt ee th .s me 29, e.f ee...edees efiet y eqept i xe is deeui esex e iee cleeetee. m be e t e be t.$..i nd he uide e.1 pe e ee e eerteie nd...t et etzieme etbeee en. ne hwiseto he ed es.@eet and enm v themte t. ...emeensierengeen ee .ue e and qwe d e epert hqr.nzevieeeaid. r qns .e emeetw ...tt '.b iy..we11s. the m V811: irem9P9 E 19 I heo her v. t he reatibor io e the m mqv ment. i he. d em e eeq-i te en ge: nd drivin meme n ery of each pair for ce si g 'n .fiefi sed; ar. andputeri pl e .1. 5. nd-P d; ithh eee cm ep rfitienecem:

An. par tus; rec in fletlsci lee cee 35. P 1 of .sis e.. ei es.. xenee,d. e e to- Qn-t Qmmsfi- 9 in QgreL-f ne end ter. Plies nd e ,rqinsied out an provi d wi h hin ed 5 end reeed @n ;.e than pe dedi ter:

a Pai 9- :.I?l.l .l X.?-dJ'@Q -v j each .dee e ts ex end d. etwe neehpeii feed enga in he uter d exe d e al ne h same fle lx qlded er en$1 11 wi h r byfie carton lengthwise to sfJread the edges die e iens, apai o Pul eys edieeemi... @5 end of the side guides, belts eggterg degibetvyeep l ee lesfr Qf eee e r n neee p the e Q? he uidesv .e dfj xt dee en thwise a rt. a d pe t e the emsg, titipn s toewi g eeit eb e i hee t e ema. .ee de fan Ye lte cart W W si- 'teehj ie qin .oiilf r id idimeans. rree t ee tem. eee eeeee he'eed ime er: flee .tqm th fl e x e inesi n or e ti ne'w ih ets. i t e sid wal ottkl when. I ecegt n is mqveda one he] e e tiqn Q th eeieemevi .t esix e el a dl e he e it ensdvance. in. aid. slots; flee e Yiee. eans nterqqnnee t z e. Qne. e et.bf: a hip i- 1 or ausi th wo bel s t9;

iflqve in 1 1 111SQ1:1. v A" el eret s ere e yt lded ntons Y T d. of ntel nnenf hdeutereli l we Q 1'1 dii E 'l re ed h h ed pres pe tit eee. 1mee me iiiie av n the t out. end ose tQe th-req nse ebl'e b twe e r e ege f a ar n; aid. u de x e din en thwi e he. neeretus ed ro nd d. twer ynter-me: ieteflfinefid end eqed ene -t a he mt r ends a distance. lessthe r; the space between the outwardly rounded intermediate portions,means moving" lengthwise of the guidesend meeting with the inserted freeedges of a. 'cartpn to grip the *certen free'edges and spread themapart; whileadyancing the. carton lengthwise alongthe. edges apart endermit. the est aid. means perating else. to. spreadtheergsenartitionfiitd swing transver el of the car-.. folded; WIFUOB'and'permitztheipartitionstasWingi75 ton and then td movie the sidewallstogether at the rear portions of the side guides, upper and lowerlongitudinally disposed guide means arranged to engage the upper andlower edges of the cross partitions for maintaining the same in positionfor engaging slots in the side walls of the carton, carton deflectingbars located between the side guides and the upper guide means andarranged in substantial parallelism with the side guiding means inposition for engaging the carton for forcing the cross partitions intoengagement with said slots, and driving means interconnecting one pulleyof each pair for causing the two belts to move in unison.

12. An apparatus for erecting flatly folded cartons composed of integralinner and outer plies and provided with hinged cross partitions,comprising a pair of side guides arranged close together at their frontends and rounded outwardly at their intermediate portions andapproaching each other at their rear ends, a pair of pulleys adjacenteach end of the side guides, belts extended between one pulley of eachpair and engaging the outer faces of the guides and extending along thesame to receive the free edges of a flatly folded carton between thebelts and the guides and thereby to move the carton lengthwise to spreadthe edges apart and permit the cross partitions to swing transversely ofthe carton, and then to move the side walls together at the rearportions of the side guides, upper and lower longitudinally disposedguide means arranged to engage the upper and lower edges of the crosspartitions for maintaining the same in position for engaging slots inthe side walls of the carton, carton deflecting bars located between theupper edges of the side guides and the upper guide means and extendingalong the side guides in substantial parallelism with the same from theoutwardly rounded portions thereof to approximately the rear ends of theside guides, and twisted from a substantially horizontal startingposition to a gradually vertical finishing position to maintain theircarton engaging faces in flush contact with the side walls of the cartonfor forcing the cross partitions into engagement with said slots, anddriving means interconnecting one pulley of each pair for causing thetwo belts to move in unison.

13. An apparatus for erecting flatly folded car- 10 tons composed ofintegral inner and outer plies and provided with hinged crosspartitions, comprising a pair of side guides arranged close together attheir front ends and rounded outward- 'ly at their intermediate portionsand approaching each other at their rear ends, a pair of pulleysadjacent each end of the side guides, belts extended between one pulleyof each pair and engaging the outer faces of the guides and extendingalong the same to receive the free edges of a flatly folded cartonbetween the belts and the guides and thereby to move the cartonlengthwise to spread the edges apart and permit the cross partitions toswing transversely of the carton and then to move the side wallstogether at the rear portions of the side guides, upper and lowerlongitudinally disposed guide means arranged to engage the upper andlower edges of the cross partitions for maintaining the same in positionfor engaging slots in the side walls of the carton, carton deflectingbars located between th upper edges of the side guides and the upperpartition guiding means, said deflecting bars extending approximatelyfrom the widest of the outwardly rounded portions of the side guides tothe rear ends of the same and arranged to engage and depress the sidewalls of a carton as it is moved along the guides to force the slots ofthe side walls into engagement with the partitions, said deflecting barsbeing arranged in substantial parallelism with the adjacent portions ofthe side guides to effect the said engagement of the slots of the sidewalls with the cross partitions, and driving means interconnecting onepulley of each pair for causing the two belts to move in unison.

PRESTON J. BLACKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 709,501 Munson Sept. 23, 1902845,837 Wines Mar. 5, 1907 1,883,307 Livingston et a1. Oct. 1%, 19321,956,149 Feibel Apr. 24, 1934 2,072,065 Brown et al. Feb. 23 1937

